Where the hell was everyone else?

  CHAPTER THREE

  Something was wrong.

  “What is it?” Colton asked Ace, aware of his husband having gone quiet. For all of Ace’s quirks, he was incredibly intuitive, and Colton always listened. Ace was also rarely quiet.

  Ace leaned in, whispering. “Why isn’t the town packed with people?” He frowned as he scanned the area. “We can’t be the only tourists.”

  Colton had been so busy taking in everything he hadn’t noticed that he and his family seemed to be the only non-locals around. They kind of stood out among the townspeople. Since Colton had been researching the town for years, he was aware of their reputation as being welcoming and inclusive, which was one of the reasons they were so highly rated.

  Everyone around them appeared to be a town resident, heading somewhere, carrying groceries or shopping. That’s when he noticed many of the shops and stalls that catered to tourists were closed. Colton turned back to the lovely hot cocoa vendor. She was a rosy-cheeked older woman with long, gray braided hair. The sleigh-shaped pin on her sweater said her name was Ellen.

  “Excuse me. Where are all the guests? I thought it would be busier.” More like he knew it should be. According to the town’s website, hundreds of visitors flooded it yearly to experience its Christmas celebration.

  Ellen appeared confused for some reason. “Mr. Connolly, you and your family are the only guests.”

  Wait. That couldn’t be right. “How is that possible?”

  Next to Ellen stood a younger woman with pink cheeks and a red beanie pulled down over her dark hair. The little red and white mitten tag on her sweater said her name was Holly. “On account of our town hall being closed.”

  “Why would that stop guests from coming to enjoy the town’s festivities? Most of your events take place in the Ice Castle.”

  Ellen gasped softly, her gaze turning sympathetic. “Oh, sweetie. You need to find Clara.”

  That did not sound good. Colton and Ace exchanged glances. He turned his attention back to Ellen. “Why? What’s going on?” The rest of their family seemed to sense something was wrong and joined them.

  Holly’s gaze turned sympathetic as well. “The town hall? That is the Ice Castle. They’re the same building.”

  “Oh no.” Colton’s heart sank. “The Ice Castle is closed?” That’s where all the Christmas stalls were supposed to be, along with the charming little Christmas shops, all the contests and events, meeting Santa and his reindeer.

  Leo lifted his gaze to Colton. “No Santa?”

  Fitz wrapped his arm around Leo’s shoulder, his expression troubled.

  “I don’t understand,” Colton said to Ellen. “What happened?”

  “You should find Clara,” Ellen said gently. “She can give you all the details.”

  “Where can we find her?” Gio asked.

  “She’s at the Ice Castle, just on the other end of town past the gardens.”

  Colton thanked Ellen and Holly, then he turned back to the others. “The staff will let you in if anyone wants to return to the cabin. Ace and I can find out what’s going on and let you all know.” No one moved, squeezing Colton’s heart. “Okay then, let’s go.” They all walked down the cobblestone streets, admiring the storefronts and charming buildings. The snow garden was beautiful, and despite no guests other than them, it had been decorated with tiny, twinkling white lights. But he noticed, unlike the photos he’d seen online, that all the deer and little woodland creatures made of snow were missing.

  “When Joshua said their town hall was closed,” Colton said, “I had no idea what it meant.”

  “It’s not your fault, love.” Ace squeezed Colton’s hand.

  When they reached the Ice Castle, no lights were turned on. Everything was dark around the castle, and by the look of it, maybe even inside. Colton peaked through one of the windows. “I can see a couple of lanterns on inside.”

  Joker pulled the large white doors open. “It’s not locked, so Clara must be here.”

  They all filed through the doors. It was almost as cold inside as outside, which meant the heating wasn’t on, and it was hard to see the interior of the Castle without more lighting. He could make out several double doors that led to other rooms. It was huge, with a long hall they followed toward a glowing light at the end. Why wouldn’t Clara turn on the lights?

  “Hello?” Colton called out as they reached the open room. “Clara?”

  “Son of a nutcracker!” An older woman who reminded Colton very much of Betty White during her Golden Girls years spun around, a hand to her chest. “You scared the Dickens out of me.”

  “My apologies,” Colton said, holding back a smile. “I’m Colton Connolly.”

  Her face lit up. “Oh, Mr. Connolly! How wonderful to meet you in person.” She quickly held out her hand, and he shook it. Clara might be a petite woman, but she had one hell of a grip.

  “This is my husband, Ace, and our family.”

  Clara shook Ace’s hand and greeted everyone else. She turned back to him and smiled. “We’re so delighted to have you and your family here. With everything going on, we weren’t expecting visitors.”

  “That’s what I came to talk to you about. My assistant, Joshua, told me the town hall was closed. I had no idea your town hall and the Ice Castle were the same building.”

  Clara gasped. “Oh no. Oh my. I’m so very sorry.”

  “What happened?” Jack asked, looking around. “It looks like you don’t have any power.”

  Clara shook her head and sighed. “The snowstorm knocked out a good deal of our power in town. It’s why some of the businesses are closed. But the worst impact has been to the Ice Castle. The power won’t come on, and no one can figure out why.”

  “Mind if I take a look?” Jack asked. “It’s kind of my specialty, along with tech.”

  “An extra set of eyes wouldn’t hurt.” She turned and pointed inside. “Noel is just inside. Poor thing has been trying to fix the panel, but I think it’s too much for him. The Ice Castle was retrofitted with all-new wiring a few years ago.”

  Jack went off to check it out, and Clara turned back to Colton. “Sadly, even if we could get the Ice Castle up and running, there’s been some damage to the roof, and our usual contractors have been swamped making repairs in other towns that also have damaged structures due to the storm. Then there’s the issue of our deliveries.”

  “What do you mean?” Colton asked, aware of Mason and Lucky going off to inspect the ceiling.

  “Winterhaven sources everything from local businesses and farms,” Clara said. “Every year, we put in our orders early enough to give us time to set up for the Christmas season. This year, when our deliveries were scheduled to ship, the snowstorm blew in, making travel impossible. The vendors waited as long as they could, but the storm was worse than anyone expected. They were forced to cancel our orders. By the time the weather cleared, it was too late to reorder. Our shipments would never arrive in time.”

  “That’s terrible,” Fitz said, his gaze sympathetic.

  Clara shook her head sadly. “It’s a devastating blow. The Christmas season is what keeps our little town alive. Without this year’s guests, I don’t know how we’ll manage.”

  Colton opened his mouth to respond when Jack returned, a tall, bearded man with kind eyes following behind. Most likely Noel. The frown on Jack’s face didn’t bode well.

  “The main and sub panels need replacing.”

  Noel sighed. “I’m afraid that’s beyond my capabilities. I’m just a handyman in my off time. I don’t know how to replace something that complicated.”

  “Your roof is leaking,” Lucky said, Mason at his side.

  “Oh dear.” Clara put a hand to her head. “I’m going to have to break the news to the mayor.”

  “Poor Santa.” Leo shook his head. “I mean, the mayor, obviously, but this sounds bad.” He cocked his head to one side, his gaze seeming to unfocus before he jumped, scaring the hell out of everyone.

  “Every time,” Joker grumbled. “Why do you have to scare the life out of us every time you get a bright idea?”

  “Sorry. It’s just my brain and body coming to the same conclusion.” Leo turned to King. “We need to help Santa.”

  King blinked at him. “Help Santa?”

  “The mayor. And the town,” Leo replied. He motioned at everyone. “We’re kind of the best people equipped for the job. Jack can work on the electrical issues, and Lucky and Mason on the roof.”

  “I can’t fix it without new panels,” Jack said. “Something that specialized will take longer to ship than we have time for.”

  “Not to mention the town’s entire Christmas shipment is non-existent,” Fitz added.

  Leo blinked at them, then turned to Colton. “You own a shipping company.”

  Colton opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. Well damn. He did, didn’t he?

  “It’s more of a shipping empire,” Leo corrected. “I mean, if anyone can get the town what they need in no time, it’s you. Right?”

  Everyone stood there gaping at one another. Trust Leo to point out the obvious solution.

  Clara shook her head. “As much as I appreciate the thought, our town simply doesn’t have the connections or the funds to take on a shipment of that magnitude.”

  Colton turned to Ace, who smiled lovingly.

  “Baby, if anyone can do it, you can.”

  What good was all his wealth if he couldn’t help those who needed it? Filled with hope and determination, Colton turned to Clara. “Can you put together a list of everything you need for Winterhaven to have another successful Christmas season? From decor to food and supplies.”

  “Mr. Connolly, I couldn’t possibly ask you to take on such a huge—”

  Colton took her hand in his. “Clara, I promised my family the perfect Christmas. Will you help me give it to them?”

  Clara looked from him to the rest of the group, her gaze landing on Leo, who smiled his sweet smile. Like most people who took one look at that smile, she melted.

  “I would love to help you give your family the perfect Christmas.” She turned back to face Colton. “If it isn’t too much, I would love the help. I’m sure the mayor will be thrilled as well.”

  “Wonderful! My family and I will return to our cabin, and as soon as we receive all the information, we’ll get started on a plan.”

  “It all sounds too good to be true,” Clara said before throwing her arms around Colton and squeezing the air out of him. She was strong for such a petite lady.

  They said their goodbyes and headed out.

  “There’s going to be a lot to do,” Red said, his arm around Laz. “Lots of arrangements and phone calls to make.”

  Ace snorted. “You forget, oh Jolly Red Giant, that this is what my snookums does for a living.”

  “And I’ll be helping Colton make all the arrangements,” Gio said, patting Colton’s shoulder.

  “Still,” Joker said worriedly. “We’re talking about an entire town. The volume of supplies they need to launch their usual Christmas season is probably astronomical.”

  Colton waved a hand in dismissal. “I’m not worried about the cost.”

  “Okay, Daddy Warbucks,” Joker snickered. “I was referring more to the time frame and workload, but sure, make it rain.”

  Ace stopped beside the SUV and turned to Joker. “I’m sorry. Did you just reference Annie?”

  Oh dear.

  Joker narrowed his eyes. “Your point, Anston?”

  Ace shrugged. “Not sure whether I’m more surprised you’ve seen the movie or that you referred to Warbucks as Daddy.” He waggled his eyebrows at Gio. “Daddy Warbucks, huh?”

  “I’m about to tell Chip to make a hole in the snow so I can bury you,” Joker warned.

  “Ouch. Where’s your holiday spirit?” Ace climbed into the SUV, and Joker called out after him as he climbed in.

  “I’d be more worried about where my foot is about to be.”

  Those two. Colton climbed in, and soon, they were on their way back to the cabin. Colton was lost in thought the entire ride, planning ahead to all the calls he needed to make. He had many connections in the shipping industry, not to mention favors he could call in.

  “You okay?” Ace asked quietly as he leaned in.

  “Just thinking.” Colton remained quiet the entire ride. He could do this. Couldn’t he? Oh boy.

  When they reached the cabin, he was momentarily distracted by the beauty inside. It was a luxury home with multiple rooms, an expansive marble kitchen, and living areas with plush seating. The ambient lighting was warm, and the colossal stone fireplaces were perfect for guests to snuggle up. The ceilings were high, and there were plenty of windows and glass doors to admire the scenery.

  “The kitchen is fully stocked,” Colton told Red, who grinned widely and hurried off to his favorite room. Laz happily followed, laughing at Red’s gasp.

  “Look at the size of that stove! And the counters! So much space.”

  Colton chuckled. The rest of their crew spread out, exploring the cabin. Jack was impressed by the security system, while Joker threw himself on the couch and released a deep sigh of approval at its obvious comfortableness. Fitz had gone off to unpack, and Colton was sure his friend would be excited by the vast amount of closet space. Leo was off exploring with King close behind should Leo get lost in his head again and wander. They were so used to it that it had become second nature for whoever was closest to keep an eye on Leo.

  Gio sat on the plush gray couch and pulled Joker close, kissing him sweetly. It still amazed Colton to see Joker melt and get lost in Gio. For all his gruffness and growliness, Joker was utterly head over heels in love with Gio, and it showed.

  “We’ll see you downstairs for breakfast,” Ace said, taking Colton’s hand and leading him toward the beautiful log staircase.

  Everyone said their goodnights, and Colton followed Ace upstairs, surprised his husband didn’t want to stay downstairs with the rest of the Kings. When they reached their bedroom, Ace closed the door behind them and turned, his expression soft.

  “What are you worried about most?”

  Colton let out a heavy sigh and chuckled. “How did you know?”

  Ace pulled Colton into his arms. “Because you grow quiet and get this far-off look in your eyes. Kind of like Leo, except you don’t jump and scare the crap out of everyone when it all clicks.”

  “True.” Colton walked backward toward the bed, Ace following. He sat, and Ace stepped between his legs. He brushed his fingers through Colton’s hair. “What if I can’t pull this off? I’ll be letting down my family and an entire town. You heard Clara. Winterhaven depends on this being a successful Christmas season.”

  Ace brushed his lips over Colton’s. “Sounds like maybe you need a little encouragement.”

  “You think so?” Colton shivered, and it had nothing to do with the cold. It happened every time his husband used his sexy bedroom voice. “I wouldn’t say no to a little encouragement.” When Ace got on his knees, Colton groaned. “I definitely need encouragement. Lots of it.”

  Ace chuckled and reached for Colton’s belt.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Colton Connolly was a man of his word. He was well-respected and a force to be reckoned with in the boardroom. He had to be to run his family’s worldwide shipping company, Connolly Maritime.

  Only those closest to him knew of his generosity and the tender heart beneath his expensive designer suits. He was a good man who hated disappointing the people he cared about. Ace never had to be reminded of how lucky he was to have Colton. That was why when his husband got lost in his head, Ace took it upon himself to ease some of his worry.

  “You’re an amazing man,” Ace said, sliding his hands up Colton’s thighs, his erection strained against his pants when Colton leaned back, his gaze filled with want for Ace.

  “I’m a lucky man,” Colton corrected.

  “That too. I mean, you’re married to this.” Ace motioned at himself, then flexed his right bicep. “Go ahead, touch it. You know you want to. I’ll chop some wood for you later, all lumberjack-like.”

  Colton threw his head back with a laugh. Ace loved Colton’s laugh and how his smile formed little creases at the corners of his blue-gray eyes. He was such a beautiful man.

  “Please don’t.” Colton met Ace’s gaze, his eyes filled with so much love. “Also, the logs are precut, but I appreciate the gesture.”

  Ace unfastened Colton’s belt, taking hold of the waistband of his pants and boxer briefs. He lifted his gaze and arched an eyebrow. “You’d also appreciate me not picking up an ax.”

  Colton didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely.” He lifted his hips, and Ace snickered, pulling his pants and underwear down, stopping only long enough to remove Colton’s shoes and socks. With his clothes on the floor, Ace cupped Colton’s ass and tugged him forward.

  “That’s okay. I have something long and hard right in front of me that I’d much rather hold.” He wrapped a hand around his husband’s hard length, making him jump. Before Colton could reply, Ace swallowed him down.

  With a stifled curse, Colton punched his hips and slipped his fingers into Ace’s hair. He closed his eyes and released a low, sultry moan as Ace lavished all his attention on making Colton writhe with need. There was nothing Ace loved more than the taste of his husband. Three years into their marriage and Ace still couldn’t get enough. He dug his fingers into Colton’s hips when a squeeze to his shoulder had him pulling back.

  “Come up here,” Colton said, his voice husky.

  Ace didn’t need to be told twice. He quickly undressed while Colton removed the rest of his clothes. Naked, Ace climbed onto the bed, crawling over his beautiful man. The only sounds were of their panting breaths and the fire crackling in the expansive fireplace across the spacious room. Through the windows they could see the snow fall, and the white-capped mountains off in the distance. It occurred to Ace then that it had been too long since they’d had a romantic getaway.